Making a Difference Project

Updated on August 28, 2014
L.M. asks from Chicago, IL
14 answers

So I'm working with my Brownie troop to do a project on making a difference in our community. Some things we have thought of are donating book to the school library or the local public library. Also, collecting food or other items for the food pantry -- but we do this at Thanksgiving time as well.

I'm looking for other ideas from moms who are creative or have done something like this. Field trips are sort of hard for us, as we have a big troop and can't always count on drivers to get us where we need to go. We've also thought of helping at an animal shelter and providing pet supplies, but not sure if we can get all our girls there at the same time.

TIA!

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I was going to suggest visiting an older folks home but if you can't get
everyone there how about making cards for them to be dropped off?
Or buying inexpensive flowers (like daisies), making small center pieces in small glass bowls from the Dollar Store to be dropped off there. A parent can do this w/o the kids.

I think providing pet supplies to a shelter is a great idea, too.

The kids could also write (or dictate) letters to people serving in the military.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Chattanooga on

You could go with the animal shelter thing, and ask that each member donates so many hours per week in their own time instead of in a big group. It would probably be better that way anyway- less overwhelming for the animals and staff of the shelter.

Then during your meetings, you can do things like sew blankets, make paracord collars, or other things to donate that can be done in a more convenient location.

3 moms found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Contact the city and see if there are projects to do - cleaning up planting beds, painting picnic tables, etc. My daughter has also gone with groups to clean the local movie theater and then they got to see a movie.
Contact a local church and see if there are people who need help with fall clean-up. The girls could be split to do some projects like raking leaves and that kind of thing.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.B.

answers from Denver on

How about something to do with kindness? Have your troop pledge to do one kind thing a day, whether it's a kind word or action. Make a troop journal or chart about how kindness can change the world in a significant way. Choose some people who could use some kindness - it doesn't have to be one person, but people who could just use a break. Check with a local church to see if there's a family that needs help. Or have your troop look for ways to show kindness.

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Adopt a stretch of road and pick up trash.
It makes a big difference!

2 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Some things we did over the years:
-collected books & school supplies for low income schools
-collected used towels, blankets & pet food for the animal shelter
-did a beach clean up (surprisingly the girls loved this!)
-planted flowers at the church where we held our meetings
-decorated and delivered cookies to the senior center next to same church (also sang Christmas carols there at our December meeting)
-held a clothing drive for a family shelter
-made toiletry kits (travel size shampoos, soaps, etc.) for a homeless shelter
I know there's more but this is what comes to mind now. Have fun!!!

2 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

How about going to a nursing home or assisted living facility and making some seasonal decorations? Talk to the activities director and see if there is a group of high-functioning residents who could benefit from working hand-in-hand with the local Brownies to make some window decorations or hanging paper chains with cut-outs of fall leaves, or spraying real leaves with paint to make silhouettes? Or team up with the Senior Center (high functioning people with no scary oxygen equipment) to create something for the center or to deliver to a nursing home? Snowflakes are a classic but you could do cornucopias and pumpkins and Indian corn. If you go to the library you can find a whole bunch of "old fashioned" craft books that show you how to do all these things with step by step directions!

Singing songs for nursing home residents?

Thank you notes or poster for firefighters or police? Maybe combine with a tour of the fire station or police station? Fire safety and bike helmet safety can be reinforced by the professionals and a thank you can come from the kids. A tour of the ambulances can help ward off anxiety should a child ever have to be transported herself. If you can't get there yourself, invite the fire fighters to come to you and bring an ambulance. You'll need a back-up plan in case of emergency of course but it's worth a try.

If there is enough adult supervision, you could try some fleece quilts (little or no sewing) to provide afghans for the elderly or comforting blankets for children being transported by ambulance.

I'd go easy on the food drive right now - everyone's doing it, from Scouts to offices to churches to letter carriers. Re-schedule that for May when kids will be home from school all summer (and away from subsidized school lunches) and when everyone else's donations drop off and pantry supplies are perilously low. The pantries don't need your troop at Thanksgiving when everyone else is doing it, actually. I know it's the season when people want to do that, but it's also a good season to remember that the elderly are stuck inside in cold weather and many don't have family to visit them.

Litter pick up and leaf-raking near your meeting site. Post a few signs saying "This section cleaned up by Troop 123" for publicity and to encourage other groups to help out in other areas. Or try bulb planting - maybe a local garden center will donate bulbs for you. These can be planted with bulb planters and plain trowels, easy to get to your meeting location.

Toy and toiletry drives for shelters. See if your police domestic violence officer will come and give an age-appropriate talk about not standing still for violence. Let the kids know there are places where kids can be safe. Also you can ask a dentist or two to come in and talk about dental health (proper flossing, importance of brushing, blah blah) and bring in some sample sizes of toothbrushes and toothpaste to donate to shelters. See if local hotels will contribute shampoo and lotion, then the kids can make little hospitality/welcome baskets (get baskets from the dollar store or see if you can get donations), then assemble and wrap in a little clear cellophane (available at party stores) and tie with curling ribbon. Little hands can do this and not much dexterity or creativity is really required. Make gift tags that say "Donated by Troop 123", punch a hole, and tie to a piece of curling ribbon. This would be a good place for used books and clean stuffed animals too. Since you can't visit the shelters anyway or even know their locations, maybe someone from the shelter network can come and collect the baskets (and give you a wish list ahead of time), then the kids can help load things into her car and take a picture to send to the local newspaper.

Collect used toys and games for group homes for kids needing to be removed from their own homes. You'll have to deal with sensitivity of course. Also, if there is a social service agency dealing with new Americans, they may need household items. Same thing with families formerly homeless who get their first apartments - they need everything and it's a good time for families to clean out their good-condition-but-no-longer-used items. Contact the agencies first to find out what they need, and give families a wish list. Kids can go to their own neighbors to ask for donations or put a collection box on their own porches.

2 moms found this helpful

E.J.

answers from Chicago on

What about a book drive to send to our service people over seas? Or donating candy to them?

I would contact your local veterans affairs to coordinate.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

D.D.

answers from New York on

Contact your local senior center and see if of the seniors could use some help with leaf raking in the fall. Make visits to a nursing home. Adopt a needy family or two for the holidays and provide thanksgiving dinner and holiday gifts.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from Dallas on

You could try volunteermatch dot org. Just choose your area and then under "more filters" select "kids" so you can see opportunities for kids. :)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.V.

answers from Chicago on

Making cards for the troops, firefighters, or kids in the hospital could be good if field trips are hard. I liked the idea of raking leaves for the elderly in your area as well.

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i really think one of the nicest things to do would be to focus on the most invisible, forgotten demographics in modern american society- the elderly. we've become so detached from the wisdom and experience that our geriatrics can offer. and the girls would bring so much brightness and laughter into a retirement community.
khairete
S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.P.

answers from Chicago on

do a trash clean up day in your neighborhood, in a field or park or forest near you or along some streets (depending on age of kids and street obviously) - there is ALWAYS trash around and it does make a difference to have it picked up

go to your school and ask if they need weeding done, our school district doesn't pay for that anymore so parent volunteers have to do it

there are a lot of dead trees around maybe there would be a way to help with that

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Chicago on

We did birthday kits. If you google online they tell you what supplies you need and make bags with birthday supplies and ship them so kids can have a birthday. We did the pet supplies also and brought them to a shelter, but couldn't go in unless each girl had a parent with her. They were especially pleased that we had brought toliet paper for the shelter.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions